Suspect in attack on Erie couple had charge reduced in another criminal case

This is an undated contributed photo of Adam Brown, 22, who is charged with criminal attempt at homicide, aggravated assault, burglary, robbery, possessing an instrument of crime, recklessly endangering, theft, receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and driving under suspension. CONTRIBUTED/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

An Erie man accused of cutting the throats of an elderly couple during a robbery on Sunday morning had been released from jail less than a week earlier after prosecutors changed the main charge filed against him in another criminal case.

Adam J. Brown, 22, had been in jail on charges including a felony count of aggravated harassment by prisoner for a June 10 incident on the city's east side, where police said he spit on officers after he was taken into custody.

The felony charge was amended to a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct at Brown's preliminary hearing on July 8. He pleaded guilty to it, along with a second disorderly conduct count and a misdemeanor charge of defiant trespass, and he was released from jail after Erie 1st Ward District Judge Sue Mack sentenced him to one year of probation, and ordered him to undergo drug-alcohol and mental health assessments.

Erie County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Cullen, who handled Brown's case at the July 8 hearing, said the felony harassment by prisoner charge was changed because it did not apply, as Brown had just been taken into police custody. The charge applies to someone who was already arrested and in custody, Cullen said.

"We really couldn't prove that charge because he was not technically a prisoner because it was his initial arrest," Cullen said Thursday.

Brown is back in jail on $500,000 bond on charges including two counts of attempted homicide in the attack on the couple, which happened in the 1300 block of East 28th Street.